Cancun is a city on the Yucatan Peninsula in Quintana Roo, Mexico. It is one of the most popular tourist resort destinations on Mexico’s Caribbean coast, blessed with powdery-white sand beaches and turquoise waters sparkling in the brilliant sunshine. Apart from being a party town and spring break hotspot, Cancun is also a great destination for a family holiday. You can spend the entire day snoozing on the beach, playing water sports, and snorkelling or scuba diving offshore. As a bonus, there are several Mayan ruins in the area that are well worth the trouble of getting up off the beach. Get a car for hire in Cancun through our website so that you can go beach hopping, and explore the city and its attractions at your own pace.
Rent a Car in Cancun for Beach Hopping
The entire coast facing Cancun is one long beach that stretches for around 14 miles in front of Boulevard Kukulcan and the 7-shaped Cancun hotel zone. The northside beaches protected by the barrier island (Isla Mujeres) have calm and protected waters that are safe for families with children. The eastside beaches are ideal for surfing and water sports. Get a car for rent in Cancun from us and start with Pearl Beach, also known as Playa Las Perlas. The next one is Playa Linda or Pretty Beach, followed by Lobster Beach (Playa Langosta), Turtle Beach (Playa Tortugas), and Snail Beach (Playa Caracol). Among the eastside beaches, the most conveniently located beach is Playa Gaviota Azul aka Blue Seagull Beach. The next one is Chac Mool Beach, followed by the Marlin, Whale, and Dolphin beaches. The last beach at the south end of the hotel zone is Playa Punta Nizuc.
Mayan Archaeological Site Tours for Cancun Visitors
If you are really interested in the Mayans and their architecture, follow the crowd heading out for tours of Chichen Itza and the Pyramid of Kukulcan, Tulum, Ek Balam, Kohunlich, and Coba. But if you are loath to leave behind the Cancun beaches for too long, then there are four Mayan ruin sites in Cancun and in the immediate vicinity. One of them, El Rey, is actually in the hotel zone. Another one called Yamil Lu’um can be seen in the Sheraton Hotel garden. The third one is Pok ta Pok, an ancient temple incongruously located within the rolling greens of a golf course. The last one is El Meco, a few miles outside the city.
Top-Rated Hotels in the Cancun Hotel Zone
There are all kinds of hotels available, from luxury to affordable family lodgings and budget rooms. At the luxury end, you have five-star hotels such as the Ritz-Carlton (Retorno del Rey #36) and all-inclusive resorts such as Le Blanc Spa Resort (Blvd Kukulkan KM-10). The mid-range properties that are decent enough for families on a budget include the Royal Mayan and the Royal Caribbean on Blvd. Kukulcan KM-17, and the Marriott CasaMagna Cancun Resort at Blvd Kukulcan, Retorno Chac L-41.
Hire a Car in Cancun for a Long Coastal Drive
The best choice for a nice and long drive along the coast is a trip to Chetumal, which rivals Cancun in its beauty as a beach resort. Book your car rental in Cancun from our website right now and plan for the 4 ½-hour drive with stops along the way at Playa del Carmen and Tulum. You could also take a detour in between to San Miguel on the island of Cozumel, which is another scintillating destination for a beach holiday. You could also take a drive inland and across the peninsula to Merida, and from there continue to Campeche and Ciudad del Carmen on the opposite coast.